Girl, 9, Gives Birth in Mexico

A 9-year-old Mexican girl, under the reported name of Dafne, gave birth to a baby girl on Jan. 27, 2013 in Jalisco, Mexico.

Both mother and child are at home and healthy, Dr. Enrique Rabago, director of Zoquipan Hospital, said at a press conference this morning.

The search continues, according to authorities, for the baby's 17-year-old father, who may be criminally charged for having a sexual relationship with Dafne.

"Due to her young age, we don't know if she is being entirely truthful," says Lino Ginzalez Corona, spokesperson at Jalisco State Prosecutor's Office, who received an account of the relationship from the young mother who describes a loving relationship.

According to Corona, the 17-year-old and Dafne were dating but the young girl is unwilling to release any further information regarding the association between the two.

"She did not realize that she was pregnant until the seventh month," said Corona. Her boyfriend suggested Dafne move in with him and to raise the child together but when the young mother refused, her boyfriend "decided to leave town two months ago," says Corona.

State authorities are searching for the father of the child to acquire his own account of what occurred between the two. The prosecutor's office in the state of Jalisco said they are willing to request cooperation from neighboring state authorities if necessary.

Corona says the state prosecutor is "still open to the possibility of rape or child sex abuse."

Dafne, who is one of 11 children, lives in Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos, a poverty-stricken neighborhood 25 miles south of Guadalajara. "Her parents work all day and were not watching after her," says Corona, "and therefore didn't realize what was about to happen."

The girl was given a C-Section at the time of the birth. "Due to her young age and to the fact that her body was not ready to give birth," says Rabago, "the medical team decided a C-Section was the best option" for both mother and child.

Rabago said at the press conference that Dafne will be receiving both medical and psychological attention.

Last year, in Zoquipan Hospital, around 25 percent of the pregnancies were among teens.